Invincible Zhengde

Chapter 488

Seeing his father's arrogant appearance, Zhu Houzhao also knew that the heat was almost ready.

What Zhu Houzhao wanted to talk about was naturally not about making Tang Bohu an official, because this matter didn't require such effort on his part.

Tang Bohu's credit is there, as long as the father's bowl of water is level, then there is no big problem
After having the painting he gave to Dad, Dad would not say anything more, so Zhu Houzhao didn't worry about it.

The purpose of Zhu Houzhao's painstaking efforts to lay out the story is naturally a bigger matter.

So he looked at his father and said, "Father, do you remember the system that the officials and gentry pay for food as one said by the son?"

After hearing his son's words, Zhu Youtang's expression changed, and then his smile slowly faded, and his expression became serious.

He glared at Zhu Houzhao and said, "I know you have something to do."

Zhu Youtang is very clear about his son's temperament.

This is a winner who does not see the rabbit and does not scatter the eagle. He came here to make himself happy. Sure enough, something happened.

But thinking of the matter his son had mentioned, Zhu Youtang's heart also became heavy.

Now all the nobles and the royal family have paid taxes, and the rest are gentry.

Originally, Zhu Youtang thought that some officials would bring it up, but who would have thought that no one mentioned this matter from the beginning to the end, as if everyone didn't know.

Naturally, there was a reason for such pretending to be deaf and dumb. Zhu Youtang didn't think they didn't expect it. This was clearly pretending to be stupid.

Now that the son brought this matter up, it was obvious that the son was going to do it.

"Are you ready to do it?" Looking at his son, Zhu Youtang asked solemnly.

Zhu Houzhao nodded.Then he opened his mouth and said: "Report to the emperor. My son feels that the time is ripe. Now that the court has quelled King Ning's rebellion and has checked the fields in the south of the Yangtze River, it is the time when the court has a big momentum. It is the right time to do this. Suitable."

At this time, although there will be some resistance to some extent, it will be much smaller.

Zhu Youtang also agreed with his son's statement, so he nodded and said, "Are you confident?"

"My son is confident." Zhu Houzhao said firmly.

Hearing his son's earnest tone, Zhu Youtang couldn't help asking curiously, "Then what are you going to do?"

As long as this matter is brought up, someone will definitely stand up and oppose it, which is nothing to think about.

So in such a situation, how and how to do it is the key.

Zhu Houzhao actually thought about it a long time ago. He has been thinking about this matter for so many years, but he has never had the opportunity to implement it.

In fact, he had already prepared a complete and careful plan.

Zhu Houzhao said loudly: "The policy formulated by Emperor Taizu at the beginning was to take care of scholars, so that poor scholars in the world can afford to read, so this gave them tax-free land."

"However, land donations have become commonplace today, and it has become normal for gentry families everywhere to hide their land. The imperial court does not pay enough taxes, but they eat a lot of money. This is contrary to the original intention of Emperor Taizu."

"It's just that once they want to change it, they will carry out the ancestral system. Therefore, the ministers think that this matter should not be left behind, and they must not violate the original intention of Emperor Taizu."

"I feel that the tax-free land can be turned into money for support.

Calculate the tax-free money and grain of all fields, and then distribute some money and grain to scholars every year. The money and grain distributed are the same as the output of their tax-free fields.In this way, it does not violate Taizu's original intention.Taxes can also be raised. "

Having been in the Ming Dynasty for so long, Zhu Houzhao has long understood what is going on here.

That is, many things can be done but cannot be said; many things can be said but cannot be done.This is especially important.

Because on the surface, it is not that the gentry do not pay taxes, but others pay taxes.In the name of not paying taxes, they are the tax-free land given by Emperor Taizu.

Originally, there was a fixed quota, but they developed it so that they would not pay taxes as long as they won the election; their own family didn't have that much land, but they absorbed a lot of land from self-cultivating farmers.

They also hide a lot of land in private, but this kind of thing cannot be said, and it cannot be brought to the table at all, and can only be done in private.

So Zhu Houzhao's change is based on righteousness and courtesy.

Glancing at his son, Zhu Youtang didn't know what to say.

In the recent period, his son has become more and more aggressive in handling affairs, and he has almost forgotten his son's sinister side.Now he's finally bringing that side out.

If the imperial court really did this, there could be many reasons for it.

For example, the fields are very troublesome, and it is very convenient to directly distribute money and grain, and the drought and flood guarantees the income, and the scholars will not go bankrupt due to natural disasters, and the tax calculation is also easier and more convenient.

There are many, many reasons.There is no reason to object, what can you say?

Are you going to say that we actually got more secretly, so we don't want to put it on the surface?
How shameless is this?
This is what can be done in private, but it cannot be said on the table.

If you say that this violates the ancestral system of Emperor Taizong.That's actually very simple. Emperor Taizong wanted to make it possible for poor scholars to read books, but there was no money when the country was founded; now that he has money, he uses the current method to subsidize it.

And En Yangqian's name is really nice.You are supported by the emperor, which will only make more people unable to do bad things for granted.As the saying goes, the mouth of cannibalism is short, and the hand of taking people is short. If you want to do something bad, who are you worthy of?
This approach can not only stop their mouths, but also gain practical benefits.

If we have to use the ancestral system to talk about things, the imperial court's nobles, vassals, and even the emperor's Huangzhuang have all started to pay taxes. The ancestral system also said that they do not need to pay taxes. no?
In this way, many people's mouths can be blocked, making them feel miserable and unable to speak out.

Glancing at his son, Zhu Youtang laughed at himself.

Originally, he still had some worries in his heart, for fear that his son would do something inappropriate.Now it seems that I was worrying about it for nothing.

In terms of scheming and insidiousness, I can't compare to my son when I flatter myself

Zhu Youtang looked at Zhu Houzhao, and said expressionlessly: "I'll leave this matter to you, as long as it doesn't cause too much trouble."

"Father, don't worry, there will be no trouble." Zhu Houzhao bowed and said.

"Okay, you can go back if you have nothing to do." Zhu Youtang looked at Zhu Houzhao and waved his hands. He didn't want to talk to his son now.

"My son will leave." Zhu Houzhao bowed quickly and said.

Seeing the back of his son leaving, Zhu Youtang laughed at himself, then turned and walked towards the queen.

I was irritated by my son and needed to talk to the queen.In addition, the painting sent by my son is really good, you can show it to the queen.

After returning to Xianyang Palace, Zhu Houzhao breathed a sigh of relief.

I finally approved this matter from my father, and the rest is to handle the details.

Zhu Houzhao is not worried about the specific handling of this matter. No one can disobey his orders and will.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at Liu Jin who was beside him, and then said: "Tomorrow, you send someone to deliver the letter. After the morning court, ask the Minister of the Household Department, Qi You, to come over. I have something to explain to him."

"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince, this servant has recorded it." Liu Jin quickly agreed.

Zhu Houzhao felt that this matter could not be done by himself, and he had to find someone to bring it up.

As for who to look for, Zhu Houzhao had already made arrangements.Over the years, I have placed a lot of people in the court, so it is no problem to do this.

This matter was brought up by the Minister of the Ministry of Households, and it should be considered as it should be.There is no need to learn that everyone pays taxes together, because the Ministry of Households collects taxes in this way is very complicated and troublesome, so it is changed to directly distribute money and food to scholars in the form of paying salaries to officials, and he does not need to say anything else.

As long as it is proposed by him and other people in Zhu Houzhao support it in the memorial, the matter will be settled.

As for whether there will be any objection, and what are the reasons for objection, these are not important at all, and Zhu Houzhao didn't take it to heart.

After all, there is no need for local officials to collect taxes, and now it is all handled by the tax department, which is enough.

As long as someone does things for themselves, nothing else matters.This is also what Zhu Houzhao has learned over the years.

The biggest fear of being an emperor is that no one will do things for you, no matter whether you are loyal or treacherous ministers in the court.

Once there is no one to do things for you, you, the emperor, will be abolished.

As long as someone is willing to do something for you, and someone will do it for you, it is useless for others to object.Because they will get things done, those who oppose can only watch on the sidelines, there is nothing they can do.

Unless they can use strong means to oppose, usually the emperor will use stronger means to suppress it.Unless the emperor has no military power in his hands, the emperor is basically no different from a puppet.

Now Zhu Houzhao holds the military power in his hands, and there are ministers in the court to support him, so he doesn't have to worry about this situation at all.

After seeing Liu Jin agreeing, Zhu Houzhao did not continue to say anything.

It's getting late, he has to go to rest early, the princess is still waiting for him.

I have to hurry up now, after all, I want to try to have a baby as soon as possible.

Early the next morning, after the early court was over, the officials went out in twos and threes.

Qi You, Minister of the Household Department, saw Liu Jin at a glance, and saw that he was looking at him with a smile, so he hurried over.

"Eunuch Liu." Qi You smiled and cupped his hands at Liu Jin.

Liu Jin also returned the gift with a smile, and then said, "Lord Qi, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has summoned you."

Hearing Liu Jin's words.Qi You's face suddenly became serious.

You know, although he is a member of His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness the Crown Prince has not summoned him for a long time, and has not given him any orders for a long time, which actually made him feel very uneasy.

Now that he heard that His Royal Highness summoned him, he felt even more disturbed.The reason is also very simple. When His Royal Highness did not summon him, he was worried that he would be alienated; but now that he was summoned suddenly, he was worried that he had done something wrong, which made His Royal Highness angry.

But Qi You didn't have time to think so much, because he needed to see His Highness the Crown Prince quickly.

But it's okay to have no idea in your heart, so Qi You hurriedly said to Liu Jin: "I'm sorry, Eunuch Liu, does Eunuch Liu know why His Highness the Crown Prince summoned me?"

This question is very straightforward. Normally, Liu Jin will say anything that can be said, and it can be regarded as a good relationship with these officials. After all, they are all members of His Royal Highness.

But today Liu Jin didn't say anything, just said with a smile: "Master Qi will know when we get there."

Qi You didn't say anything more, he knew that there was no point in continuing to ask, because Liu Jin couldn't say anything.If you have to ask yourself, you will be in trouble.

So he didn't say anything else, and followed Liu Jin to Xianyang Palace.

After arriving at the Xianyang Palace, Qi You saw Zhu Houzhao, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "My minister, Qi You, see Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Hearing this voice, Zhu Houzhao looked back at Qi You, with a smile on his face and said, "Excuse me."

After Qi You stood up, Zhu Houzhao continued: "I asked you to come here today because I have something to tell you."

"His Royal Highness just give orders." Qi You quickly agreed.

At this moment, his heart was raised, for fear that His Royal Highness would punish him.But after thinking about it carefully, I don't seem to have done anything bad, but accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger, so I still have this heart.

"Let me show you this." Zhu Houzhao smiled and handed a copy of the test book to Liu Jin.

Liu Jin quickly took the test book with both hands, then quickly walked in front of Qi You, and handed the test book to Qi You.

Qi You bowed and took the test book, stretched out his hand and read it quickly.

This scene is so familiar, that's how His Royal Highness told him to do things before.

Give him such a test book, and don't allow him to modify it, just let him go back and write his name on it.It's just that I haven't done this kind of thing for a long time, and it feels like a lifetime away when I take it now.

But after reading the content in the question book, Qi You was not calm.

The reason is also very simple, I have worked in the Ministry of Households for so many years.He was still in charge of the tax department before, so he could see the meaning of this question book at a glance.

The imperial court wants to collect taxes from all scholars, or His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to collect taxes from all scholars.

Although these things are not mentioned above.But a discerning eye can see what's going on.This thing is just too big!
These years, Qi You's official career has been smooth and smooth, who would have thought that such a thing would happen suddenly.

If this matter is not done well, then his reputation may be stigmatized, or it may be the point where everyone shouts and beats him, which is really embarrassing.

Qi You also knew that he couldn't do it, since His Royal Highness entrusted the matter to you, he would not let you shirk, and would not give you room to evade.

"His Royal Highness, do you want me to participate in the performance?" Qi You gritted his teeth and asked.

(End of this chapter)